Winding Down

Watching Fools and Dreamers whilst waiting for our dinner.

Later, watching our class slideshow with many of the wonderful people we have met and helped along our travels.

Student Journals from the past five weeks recounting both scientific information and personal responses to our experiences were due today, and we celebrated the course end tonight with dinner out and watching Fools and Dreamers (about Hinewai and Hugh Wilson!), and then time with the folks who have helped us along the way and a slideshow (cramming as many photos as we could of over 4,000 photos into just about 200 slides).  We have done so much – worked hard and had a lot of fun! Thank you for the good memories All.

Sweet Dreams, Meryl

Freetime Fun And Willowbank

 

Sadly, we have only a few days left. Our five-week journey seems to have gone by so quickly. We started our day with student’s choice - a morning out in Christchurch climbing at the rock climbing gym, and then tucked into some Hillyers pies for lunch.

We spent the afternoon and evening at Willowbank. Willowbank is a wildlife reserve where we had a chance to see up close both exotic animals that settlers brought and cause problems here in New Zealand (everything from deer to rabbits to wallaby, etc), as well as native animals which the reserve is trying to rehab, educate the public about, or help with repopulation efforts (kiwi, kaka, etc). In addition, we had a Ko Tane or Maori experience where the “gals” got to try Poi Balls and the “guys” got to try a haka. Ka Pai! Afterwards, we gathered in the restaurant to have a hangi which is food smoked in the ground. Very tasty!

Cheers, Dr. H and Meryl

Friday,, July 26 - On the road to Kaikoura

We awoke from the Waipara Sleepers to gather our things, eat breakfast, and clean up before heading out in the Gator Waka for Kaikoura.

The group huddles together for warmth while waiting to enter the Waka

We made a stop along the way to Kaikoura at Cheviot for morning tea time. After tea time, we continued along, passing many farmlands and hills with sadly very little native vegetation (although the hills looked like they were draped in green velvet in the sun - editors m&m).

  

We saw the Kaikoura mountain range on our way to Kaikoura

We were able to see the Kaikoura mountain range from far away, which was neat, but we didn't actually see it while we were there because of all the fog that rolled in and stayed strong day. Some background context for the Kaikoura mountain range: the Kaikoura mountain range is the northeastern most part of the Alps mountain range on the South Island, with the city of Kaikoura, which lies near a fault zone, about a 3-hour drive from our Lincoln Dormitory rooms.

Knowing that the city of Kaikoura is close to a fault zone is key information for understanding that a major earthquake (7 on the Richter scale) hit Kaikoura four years ago, which has had lasting impacts that could be seen as we drove in and around Kaikoura. Once we got to Kaikoura, we stopped for a restroom break before heading north through the Hikurangi Marine Reserve, a road very close to the rocky coast that is undergoing some serious construction because of the damage that falling rocks from the earthquake did to the road.

We saw lots of construction in and around roads to Kaikoura

Although it took extra time to get through the construction, we did make it to Ohau point where we saw a large colony of New Zealand fur seals before eating some lunch in a newly reconstructed car park.

We saw many fur seals at Ohau point

This fur seal in particular was the biggest we saw at Ohau point

After lunch at Ohau point we then headed back south to Point Kean in Kaikoura where we saw more fur seals, native vegetation, and a rocky zone that had previously been sea floor but was uplifted by 4 meters to what you see in the pictures below. Also shown in the pictures below is a fur seal taking a nap amongst the vegetation with the group in the background.

Uplifted rock that was previously sea floor at Point Kean

Fur seal napping in front of group at Point Kean

In previous years sea stars and sea anemones have been found, but this year that wasn’t the case. Instead, we saw some brown algae and a few different birds, including black-backed gulls, oystercatchers, and shags.

Oystercatchers searching for food at Point Kean

 

Right as we were about to leave, we ended up meeting Brett, a department of conservation person as well as a Maori member of the Takahanga Marae (Maori meeting house) that we would be staying in later on. He told us that unfortunately he couldn’t be with us at the Marae tonight as he had a public event to partake in but he did tell us about the process at the Marae and did a hongi (Maori greeting: a “sharing of breath”) with us before we departed for the Marae.

Brett talking to the group at Point Kean

When we got to the Marae, they didn’t have the formal (powwhiri) welcoming ceremony like we were expecting (usually there is a male and a female speaker of the Maori, and the female will call out to the female “chief” of our group who responds back, and the Maori decide if we are friend or foe and act accordingly) because many Maori of the Marae were either sick or obligated with tasks elsewhere (like Brett and some others that were in different parts of the country), but there was a male speaker to welcome us with the informal welcome who welcomed us with a traditional speech in Maori (letting us know of his homeplace, mountain, etc), and the Maori sang a song for us, to which we sang one back ( “Sweet Caroline”) after our Chief, Mark, let the welcomers know if our mountain and place from which we come. After that, we shared kai (food) with them (a tradition that shows we are now all equals and share the space as friends), and then one of the Maori told us the stories behind the wood-carved panels in the special room we would be staying in (even more special because the Maori told us that at night the knowledge of the Maori ancestors will flow into our minds while we sleep). No photos were allowed to be taken in the Marae since it is the Maori sacred ground, but here is a picture of the outside of the Marae.

The outside of the Marae that we stayed at for the night

After the Marae, we went to get dinner at an Indian restaurant in Kaikoura (which was quite tasty) before heading back to the Marae to rest up for the night. Tomorrow some of the group will go whale watching in Kaikoura while others go for a short hike, before all of us head back together to Lincoln.

-Chris

Thursday, July 25 -Sheep, Greening Waipara, and Lip Sync

The start of our three day and two night trip was in full sun and pretty warm. Our first stop in the gatorwakawa was a green development called Pegasus. Here, we explored some for the pluses (rain gardens and swales, dark-sky lighting, and use of native plants) and minuses (used a lot of exotic plants) that the developer helped to set up. At the back of the development, there was some conserved open space where they are just beginning to restore with native plantings.

At the beach near Pegasus development

After tea time at Pukeko Junction, we explored the Greening Waipara project across many wineries and within the community of Waipara. The wineries incorporated biodiversity trails and planted natives within the planted vines. The idea is to provide habitat for insect predators that would eat the pests of the vines. Also - the biodiversity trails allow people to experience a little bit of their natural heritage while sipping their wine. We met with Daryl Harris, the local champion of the project and 4th generation rancher in the area. Daryl is a strong supporter of the project and has planted thousands of native plants in the area. He also uses his sheep to graze within the vineyards to keep weeds down.

Colin at Pegasus Bay Winery and the biodiversity trail

A longfin eel was sighted in the pond

Daryl explaining hos philosophy of pesticide reduction and planting natives

Daryl's Bear (the sheepdog) herding merino sheep

Daryl sorting out the sheep

We placed our belongings at the Sleeper Cars Backpackers at Waipara. We then went over to Daryl's for a home cooked meal of lamb, beef, roasted veggies and pavlova for dessert. Incredible! Then we had our traditional lip sync contest - much fun all around. Even had several games of the card game mafia. After dinner, had a cooold night in the sleeper cars

Night night. Dr H

Over the Hedge and Through the Bush, "Hey Give Me a Push!"

Throughout New Zealand in the winter, it is acutely noticeable which plants are native and which are exotic. Non-native plants, those not adapted to the climate, tend to shed their leaves during the colder and darker winter months. In turn, their barren grey branches await sunnier October days to take full advantage of their photosynthetic potential. Endemic plants, however, are better acclimated to Aotearoa. In the states, we would colloquially call these plants "ever-green". Most land owners plant hedgerows lined with exotics to surround their property and protect it from wind (especially if farming), but some land owners break the mold and choose to plant natives instead.

These "ever-green" native plants are exactly the kinds of plants Pauline and Malcolm choose to circle their 15 acre property. A decade or so ago, Dr. Hostetler worked up the gumption to visit this retired couple after driving by their property many times. Ever since, every UF in NZ class has visited them and been a hit! Today we saw the usual suspects when it comes to native flora: Harekeke, kahikatea, totara, kowhai, five finger, juvenile lancewoods, manuka, cabbage palm, tarata, and a whole slew of pittosporums. Spread out amongst these natives, a few exotics stood: Gum trees, oaks, pines, rhodendrons, and azaleas. Pauline and Malcolm are admirers of birds, and their property was very conducive to bird spotting. Their property is one of the few unique ones in the Selwyn area to feature natives over exotics.

Malcolm greets the group and introduces his property.

Malcolm and Pauline's beautiful home.

Spot of tea in hand, Pauline regaled us with tales of the couple moving to the area, the evolution of their piece of land, the first exotics they planted, the earthquakes, and the rabbit problem. Malcolm is more keen to removing rabbits with a .22LR rifle, but the couple agreed to lay out poison from now on. Malcolm manages 20 head of cattle on his property, but used to raise sheep in the paddocks. A pair of "chooks" - chickens - , also roam their section of the yard, but prefer the warm and dry coop far away from the prying eye of harriers and falcons. Other birds that call the residence home are California Quail and pheasants. 

Native hedgerow in the background with exotics in the foreground.

Chook house in the foreground with more native hedgerows in the back.

"I saw a bunny outside the window looking right at me!"

After heartfelt goodbyes and a quick group photo, the class filed into the Gator Waka to head towards Christchurch and the Art Gallery. Te Puna o Waiwhetu hosted many collections of art from both European and Maori sources. The most compelling piece was "chicken/man", which has been described by the artist, Ron Mueck, as "just the right blend of the mundane and the surreal." A seated man in only his undergarments stares balefully at a chicken standing atop a kitchen table. The chook returns the gaze and now both are locked in a humorous staring contest. The humor is undercut by an air of uncertainty.

If you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you.

Humorous? Absurd? Surreal? Serious? What do you think?

As 19th century philosopher Georg Hegel once formulated, "Art is the sensuous presentation of ideas." What ideas does such a piece present for us to perceive? Is it commentary on humanity's exploitation of animals and their by-products? A more general criticism of man's alienation from nature and how at odds we are with the surrounding environment? The absurdity of life that undercuts existence as a whole? Is it merely art for art's sake? What do you see? Leave a comment below.

After an hour of exploring the museum it was time for lunch and then a quick walk up to the Arts Centre. The Arts Centre was home to many boutique stores selling jewellery, stationary, fudge, and much more. Some bought goods for personal use, others bought gifts and mementos for home. The final stop in Christchurch for the day was the Margaret Mahy Playground. With enough room for all of us and the local children, we burned off our excess energy on the slides, swings, and jungle-gyms. We also experienced a flying-fox! We missed out on the opportunity at New Brighton Beach and were glad to have pushed our classmates off to zip around.

There go Tati and Grace! Never to be seen again (not really).

Exhausted, we made a quick tea-time stop and Coffee Culture and were briefed on our last overnight trip, Waipara and Kaikoura. Hard to think we only have a week left in New Zealand! - Bauer

Pingouins en Kayaks

Today we journeyed back to Akaroa, one of the first places we went to on this trip. We stopped for a quick tea time at Little River and made our way to meet up with the Pohatu Penguin Conservation group. Pohatu Penguin focuses on the conservation of the Little Penguin, with many threats to combat such as exotic mammalian predators, invasive plants taking over such as gorse, and habitat loss. Started 30 years ago by Shireen and Francis Helps, they have focused on boosting the population of the Pohatu colony. Kevin and Ben would be our tour guides for the day, greeting us with their friendly faces and French accents. We made the drive to Flea Bay where the real fun would begin. Even though the name sounds hostile, the origin story explains the truth. When settlers first arrived at Flea Bay, it was during the summer which is molting season for the Little Penguins. They shed their old feathers, a process which takes about 2 weeks, in order to have fresh feathers that are more waterproof and durable. During this, the infamous sand fleas of New Zealand take advantage of the penguins long stay on land and show up in hordes. Thankfully we are here in the winter and did not have any visits from sand fleas.

Our new friends!

We were immediately greeted by 3 residents of the area and even had the chance to feed our new friends. After a quick lunch, we began to prepare for our sea kayaking excursion. Equipped with wet suit skirts, lifejackets and paddles, everyone paired up and made the trek to the bay side. Kevin and Ben gave us a safety briefing which included how to paddle, what to do if our boats tip over, and what to do in case both Kevin and Ben are lost at sea. With most of us taking our shoes off and losing feeling in them almost instantly, we sent the kayaks off into the bay. We did our best to keep our distance from each other but also stick close to Ben as he talked to the group about the penguins and fur seals of the area. We were lucky enough to see a pair of penguins up on a cliffs edge, as well as fur seals, a few pied shags, and a giant petrel flew right by us a couple of times. We toured around the cove, hearing about the success story of this Little Penguin colony. 7 years ago there were only about 300 breeding pairs and as of 2016 there are at least 1100 breeding pairs in this colony. With traps put out around the bay in hopes of catching rats, possums or mustelids, the penguins have had a much better chance of survival with the lower number of predators.

Everyone preparing for the cold water

Action shot of the group

We got to see paua shells on the beach!

After the 2 hour tour, we head back inland for the opportunity to see one of the penguins up close. The area has 400 small boxes all over for the penguins to nest in for they prefer to be in dark places such as cliff sides, burrows that they sometimes dig, tool sheds and boxes like the ones they have out. Little Penguins are territorial and need at least 10 meters (about 30 feet) away from one another, so the boxes have been placed accordingly. With cameras ready, Kevin lifted the lid off of the female Little Penguins box and we got about 15 seconds to marvel at her. 

Little Penguin up close

Heading back to Akaroa and bidding Kevin and Ben goodbye, we stopped at the Bach café for an afternoon tea time before making the journey back to Lincoln.

With today being a true outdoorsy adventure, tomorrow we should be having a more mellow and artistic experience.
-Grace